"Tiki Runner" is a winner. His expression is priceless. The textures are excellent. It looks like it was painted on a wood panel instead of on canvas. The red-orange shape in the bkgd is cool and really helps pop the board and figure.

"Ruby's Dilemma" is hilarious. The tongue on the stool and the droopy eye are great touches. I love Ruby's 'Betty Boop' eyes.

Just between u, me and the tikis, my old pal Holden down at Tiki Farm has clearly lost his mind and is developing BigToe designed Tiki "shot mugs" (Does "Mug Shots" seem more appropriate for a ne'er-do-well like me?)

here are the "first sculpts" of the first 2 of 3. the detail is amazing to me considering these are 5mm wide!

I will post progress on the mysterious Big Niho whenever those come thru for review...

OK so i guess we can officially announce the first set of BigToe Tiki Mugs, or as i like to call them MUG-SHOTS...or shot-size tiki mugs for those of you less abstract thinkers.
these little babies area all around 5 cm wide. the sculpts are amazing with detail and Holden pinky-swears that they will be available from Tiki Farm early to Mid-April.

stay tuned for the full-size mugs which will include a MAI TAI BUCKET size Leno!

On 2007-12-07 15:34, Clysdalle wrote:man, they'll let anybody make a mug these days......you may even get into the next bali hai show....maybe.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Spoken like a bitter man who has to make his own mugs at home! great Job Tom!
With Holden's eye for great artists and mug designs
and your Crazy......brain and eyes; these turned out ARR-SOME!
Bravo Buddy!

OK so here is a new painting i am doing that is inspired by the San Diego Tiki Oasis 08 event theme "Vacation on Zombie Island".

The new joint is called "Zombie Tiki", acrylic on canvas (thanks Claudio!), 30 X 48". check back for periodic WIP updates:

1. I have done about 6 sketchbook studies, so i am ready to hack away at the canvas. I don't transfer any of the art, i work from scratch here. I have a hand-full of pencils, and i just sketch and erase, sketch and erase. For me, the art has much more life this way.
I am referencing my sketches for the tiki, some photos from hawaii for the foliage and lots and lots of pinup photos for the girls.

2. So now i have begun to rough in the main value blocks with a muddy combo of winsor and permanent green, burnt sienna and umbar and some black for the deep shadows...yes, kids, dutch masters school technique all the way!! i can never resist sneaking in a bit of work on my favorite parts, the girls eyes. a little sloppier than i like because I need new brushes.

TOM!
Go Buy some brushes!!!!
Art Supply Warehouse has em on Sale 50 weeks out of the year!
This new One is lookin SMOKIN!
Stoked how you're doing it up Old master's style...
TikiShark has nailed that look and let me tell ya..it ain't easy!
There is something immediate and magical about freehandin something onto the canvas....
that way it's a little more exciting for you too because
you've been thru the drills and possibilites with the sketches...
and now it's SHOWTIME!
Eagerly awaiting your progress....